EE, the country’s largest mobile phone network, failed to improve new customer
growth in the fourth quarter despite its much-vaunted launch of 4G before
its rivals.

Ofcom will announce the result of first-round bidding in the auction for 4G
spectrum today, providing Vodafone, O2 and Three with the frequencies to
compete with EE. The auction will potentially raise £3.5 billion for the
Treasury.

But EE, which launched its 4G service in November, has failed to capitalise on
its advantage after signing up 201,000 new contract users between October
and December, down from 250,000 in the previous three months.